A07407:146
The justification of man by faith onlyThe iustification of man by faith only
The justification of man by faith only: made and written by Philip Melanchthon. and translated out of the Latin in to this our mother tongue by Nicholas Less of London An apology or defence of the word of God, declaring what a necessary thing it is, to be in all mens hands, the want where of is the only cause of all ungodliness committed through the whole earth, made by the said Nicholas LessThe iustification of man by faith only: made and vvritten by Phylyp Melanchton. and translated out of the Latyn in to this oure mother tonge by Nicholas Lesse of London An apologie or defence of the worde of God, declaringe what a necessary thynge it is, to be in all mennes handes, the want wher of is the only cause of al vngodlienes committed thorowe the whole earth, made by the sayde Nicholas Lesse
Imprinted at London : In Fleet street at the sign of the George next to Saint Dunstones church by William Powell, in the year of our Lord God .M.CCCCC.XLVIII. the .XI. day of October 1548Imprinted at London : In Flete strete at the signe of the George next to Saynt Dunstones church by VVilliam Powell, in the yere of oure Lorde God .M.CCCCC.XLVIII. the .XI. daye of October 1548
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
☞ THESE be words of the Law which must needs be expounded by the Gospel, for no man should be saved if he should be judged by the Law, as by this reason following appeareth. The keeper of the commandment shall enter into life: but no man keepeth the commandment and Law: being therefore not with out sin (and so no man which is without sin shall be saved) because he can not keep the commandment as he ought to do.
☞ THESE be wordes of the Lawe which must nedes be expounded by the Gospel, for no man shulde be saued yf he shuld be iudged by the Lawe, as by thys reason folowing appeareth. The keper of the commaundemente shall enter into lyfe: but no man kepeth the commaundement and Law: being therfore nat with out sinne (and so no man which is without sinne shalbe saued) bicause he cā nat kepe the commaundement as he oughte to do.
1❧ Therefore you must add to those words (if you will enter into life. &c. that is to say after the Gospel, which promiseth forgiveness of sin, and justification or imputation of Justice for ⟨p. lxx⟩Christ sake, and so beginneth in us a new obedience which the Lord doeth approve and allow, yea though it be unperfect, not that it should be the price of life everlasting. And so it is necessary that the commandment be kept, and the Law taught, that repentance and faith may grow in us. But the Law alone is not to be taught without the promise, which promise being taken away the Law is nothing else but a minister of wrath, bringing death everlasting without end. It is plain that Christ is the end of the Law. Wherefore we may not consist and bide still in the law But when we do hear the Law preached to us trembling and quaking thereat, we may not think that we be accused because we should perish, but because we should thereby have occasion to seek our mediator the Son of God, whom let us take to be given to us, that by him we may be delivered from sin, from the tyranny of the Devil, and extreme death. Therefore when that life everlastinst is begun in us, then we do obey the Law, and keep the commandments, as it is written. I will pour forth on the house of. David the spirit of Grace and of prayer.